A metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light at a subwavelength scale. Unlike traditional lenses made of glass or other transparent materials, metalenses do not rely on the curvature of their surface to refract or focus light. Instead, they use carefully engineered patterns of nanostructures, such as nanoscale antennas or dielectric structures, to control the phase and amplitude of light across the lens's surface. This enables precise control over the direction and properties of light, allowing metalenses to perform a wide range of optical functions.
Key characteristics and advantages of metalenses include:
Ultrathin profile: Metalenses are typically much thinner and lighter than traditional lenses, making them attractive for applications where size and weight constraints are critical.
Aberration correction: The nanostructures in metalenses can be designed to correct various optical aberrations, such as chromatic aberration and spherical aberration, leading to improved optical performance.
Versatility: By changing the design of the nanostructures, metalenses can be tuned for various wavelengths and focal lengths, making them versatile for different imaging and optical systems.
Miniaturization: Metalenses can be integrated into compact devices and optical systems, offering new possibilities for miniaturization in fields like microscopy, cameras, and augmented reality.
Planar design: Metalenses have a planar design, which simplifies their integration into optical systems and devices.
Metalenses hold great promise for advancing optics and photonics, and they are being explored for applications in imaging, augmented reality, virtual reality, telecommunications, and medical devices, among others. Researchers continue to work on improving the efficiency and performance of metalenses, making them increasingly relevant in various cutting-edge technologies.